101873: Repentance of Apostate and Practitioner of Witchcraft

I have read on your website that a repenting person should hope that his repentance will be accepted but he cannot be sure it will be accepted. Can one hope his repentance may be accepted if he disbelieved then returned to Islam and asked for Allah’s forgiveness, especially since his apostasy was due to practicing witchcraft? If the answer is that he should just hope, then is his hoping that his repentance is accepted similar to the doubt in hypocrites’ hearts especially since this doubt is regarding faith, not regarding repentance being accepted or not of any sin but disbelieving. Please answer my question quickly; I am too afraid that, by Allah, I cannot sleep.

Praise be to Allah.

If a person falls into kufr (disbelief) or apostasy, then repents to Allah
and comes to Islam sincerely, Allah will accept his repentance and turn his
bad deeds into good deeds, as He has promised, and Allah does not break His
promise.

It is not right for a person to doubt this. A number of scholars have
clearly stated that repentance from kufr is definitely accepted, unlike
repentance from sins, as some said it is definitely accepted and some said
it may or may not be accepted.

Al-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said in Sharh Muslim: The
repentance of the kafir (disbeliever) from his kufr is definitely accepted,
but is any other kind of repentance definitely accepted or likely to be
accepted? There is a difference of opinion among Ahl al-Sunnah (followers of
the Prophetic way) concerning this, and Imam al-Haramayn was of the view
that it is likely, and this is the more correct view. And Allah knows best.
End quote.

Al-‘Iraqi said in Tarh al-Tathreeb (8/40): Repentance expiates for
major sins, and there is consensus on this. But is its expiation definite or
likely? With regard to repentance from kufr, it is definite, but with regard
to other major sins, the scholars of Ahl al-Sunnah disagreed. Al-Nawawi
said: The strongest view is that it is likely. The Mu’tazilah (a deviant
sect) were of the view that repentance should be accepted on the basis of
reason (as it was their way to refer everything to reason).

Abu’l-‘Abbas al-Qurtubi said: What I say is that the one who studies shariah
on the basis of the Quran and Sunnah (traditions of the Prophet), and
follows what is in them with regard to this topic knows for certain that
Allah accepts the repentance of those who are sincere. End quote.

Ibn ‘Ashoor said in al-Tahreer wa’l-Tanweer (1/914): The scholars of
Ahl al-Sunnah fall into two groups: One group is of the view that repentance
is definitely accepted because there are reports to support that. The large
number of reports indicates that this is definitive. End quote.

To sum up: the one who repents from kufr and apostasy should be optimistic,
because Islam erases whatever came before it, as the Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allah be upon him) said to ‘Amr ibn al-‘As (may Allah be
pleased with him): “Do you not know that Islam destroys whatever came before
it?” Narrated by Muslim (121).

Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“How shall Allah guide a people who disbelieved after their Belief and after
they bore witness that the Messenger (Muhammad – peace and blessings of
Allah be upon him) is true and after clear proofs had come unto them? And
Allah guides not the people who are Zalimoon (polytheists and wrongdoers).

They are those whose recompense is that on them (rests) the Curse of Allah,
of the angels, and of all mankind.

They will abide therein (Hell). Neither will their torment be lightened, nor
will it be delayed or postponed (for a while).

Except for those who repent after that and do righteous deeds. Verily, Allah
is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”

[Al- ‘Imran 3:86-89]

This includes one whose kufr involved the practice of witchcraft. If he
repents to Allah, Allah will accept his repentance. This is a matter that is
between him and his Lord. As for the acceptance of a magician’s repentance
in this world, this is subject to further discussion, as has been explained
in the answer to question no.
69914.

With regard to hoping that repentance is accepted without being certain of
it, this has to do with repentance from sins that are less serious than kufr.
This means that the person still fears that his repentance may not have been
accepted, but he hopes that his Lord will accept it. This does not mean that
he should doubt that his faith is accepted or that his doubt is like the
doubt of the hypocrites, rather he is certain of his faith, but he fears
that Allah may punish him for his sins if He does not accept his
repentance.

What you should do is turn to Allah and keep yourself busy with obeying and
worshipping Him, and think positively of Him. You should know that He
accepts those who repent to Him and He honours those who obey Him, and He
loves those who seek His forgiveness; He rejoices over those who come back
to Him, and He draws them close to Him and grants them happiness and opens
their hearts and fills their hearts with light; He endears to them obedience
and remembrance of Him. So strive to be one of them, and do not pay any
attention to the whispers of the shaytan (devil), because he wants to put
people off from repenting and make them despair, so that they will carry on
in their misguidance. He says to people: how can Allah accept your
repentance when you did such and such? Why make it hard on yourself when you
are going to be rejected anyway? This is part of his lies and tricks and
misguidance. Allah is more merciful towards His slave than a mother is
towards her child. Hence He has made it easy to repent and has increased the
reward of the penitent, and He stretches forth His hand by night to accept
the repentance of the one who sinned during the day, and He stretches forth
His hand during the day to accept the repentance of the one who sinned
during the night.

So repent to Allah and be optimistic of goodness and success.

May Allah increase us and you in guidance, help, prosperity and success.